窪山 達也

Abstract Although prechamber (PC) is regarded as a promising solution to enhance ignition in lean-burn gas engines, a lack of comprehensive understanding of PC jet penetration dynamics remains. This study proposed a zero-dimensional (0D) model for PC jet penetration, considering the mixing of combustion products and unburned gases in jets and the floating ejection pressure. A combustion completion degree was defined by employing fuel properties and heat release to estimate the time-varying jet density. Pressure differences between the PC and the main chamber (MC) were referred to as the ejection pressure. Then, this model was validated against experimental data from a constant volume chamber (CVC) and a rapid compression and expansion machine (RCEM) with CH4-H2 blends at different equivalent ratios. Results showed that the proposed model can provide a good prediction in stationary and turbulent fields with the calibrated model coefficient. The overall jet penetration exhibits a t0.5 dependence due to its single-phase characteristic and the relatively lower density compared to the ambient gas in MC. The flame propagation speed and heat release in PC influence the combustion completion degree at the start of jet ejection. The mass fraction of burned gas in the ejected jet grows in response to the mixture equivalent ratio. Jet penetration is primarily driven by ejection pressure, with tip dynamics barely affected by the pressure difference after peaks. Tip penetration intensity rises with increasing fuel equivalent ratio and H2 addition, owing to the faster flame propagation. These findings can offer useful suggestions for model-based design and combustion model development for gas engines.

Experimental methods and numerical analysis were used to investigate the mechanism of high-speed knocking that occurs in small two-stroke engines. The multi-ion probe method was used in the experiments to visualize flame propagation in the cylinder. The flame was detected by 14 ion probes grounded in the end gas region. A histogram was made of the order in which flames were detected. The characteristics of combustion in the cylinder were clarified by comparing warming up and after warming up and by extracting the features of the cycle in which knocking occurred. As a result, regions of fast flame propagation and regions prone to auto-ignition were identified. In the numerical analysis, flow and residual gas distribution in the cylinder, flame propagation and self-ignition were visualized by 3D CFD using 1D CFD calculation results as boundary conditions and initial conditions. Flame propagation calculated by 3D CFD was found to be directional due to in-cylinder flow caused by scavenging flow. The calculated direction of flame spread was matched with the experimentally measured direction. It was also found that the first auto-ignition occurred in the high temperature region where the concentration of residual gas was high. Finally, numerical analysis was performed for the high compression ratio engine specifications. As a result, the mechanism of knocking was clarified as the first auto-ignition caused by the high-temperature residual gas, followed by the pressure wave inducing continuous auto-ignition. The flow formed during the scavenging process and the subsequent compression process determine the directionality of flame propagation and residual gas distribution at top dead center. Thus, the possibility of knocking avoidance by scavenging air shape and combustion chamber shape was suggested.

For the survival of internal combustion engines, the required research right now is for alternative fuels, including drop-ins. Certain types of alternative fuels have been estimated to confirm the superiority in thermal efficiency. In this study, using a single-cylinder engine, olefin and oxygenated fuels were evaluated as a drop-in fuel considering the fuel characteristic parameters. Furthermore, the effect of various additive fuels on combustion speed was expressed using universal characteristics parameters.

Liquid fuel attached to the wall surface of the intake port, the piston and the combustion chamber is one of the main causes of the unburned hydrocarbon emissions from a port fueled SI engine, especially during transient operations. To investigate the liquid fuel film formation process and fuel film behavior during transient operation is essential to reduce exhaust emissions in real driving operations, including cold start operations. Optical techniques have been often applied to measure the fuel film in conventional reports, however, it is difficult to apply those previous techniques to actual engines during transient operations. In this study, using MEMS technique, a novel capacitance sensor has been developed to detect liquid fuel film formation and evaporation processes in actual engines. A resistance temperature detector (RTD) was also constructed on the MEMS sensor with the capacitance sensor to measure the sensor surface temperature. The response and the sensitivity of the developed sensor were examined at the atmospheric conditions at first. As a result, it was found that though the sensor shows less sensitivity to pure commercial gasoline, it has enough sensitivity to gasoline fuel containing 20% ethanol (E20 gasoline). After the sensitivity test, the sensor was installed into the intake pipe of the single cylinder engine and examined to detect the liquid fuel film on the wall of the intake pipe. The engine was operated at a constant speed of 2000 rpm with E20 gasoline fuel. The sensor performed well during the engine operation, and the liquid fuel impingement and evaporation process could be monitored.